Health Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea in Pregnancy

Naturally high in a variety of vitamins and minerals including magnesium and iron, Raspberry Leaf Tea is said to help remedy the cramps, nausea and sleeplessness many women experience during pregnancy. Currently 35 weeks (see update here), I've taken to drinking this tea a couple of times a day for the past week. For those of you out there who are considering trying Raspberry Leaf Tea in your third trimester, here are 5 suggested health benefits worth knowing about.

1. Raspberry Leaf Tea helps tone the uterus muscles.

Thanks to it's high concentration of nutrients including the alkaloid fragine, raspberry leaf tea is thought to help tone the muscles of the uterus, preparing it for labour. This toning is good news for mums to be as it could potentially make contractions more effective, shortening the pushing phase, reducing the need for birth interventions and speeding up postpartum recovery.

2. It's high mineral content encourages breast milk to come in.

The high concentration of Vitamins A, B, C and E along with minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium found in Raspberry Leaf Tea are thought to help encourage the production of 'rich' breast milk.  

  3. It can help relieve pregnancy skin complaints.

Due to it's suggested ability to regulate hormone fluctuations and it's astringent properties derived from the tannins found in the plant, the consumption of raspberry leaf tea is also said to help with skin conditions like acne and swelling due to their antibacterial and soothing powers.

  4. It helps prevent anaemia.

The leaves in raspberry leaf tea are high in both Iron and Vitamin C. This is particularly important for pregnant women trying to reduce the risk of anaemia because vitamin C aids with the absorption of iron whilst the magnesium found in the leaves also work to increase the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the body.

  5. It's good for the digestive system.

Thanks to the tannins present in the leaves of the raspberry plant, drinking one to two cups of this tea a day can help sooth the stomach, making for a calmer, healthier and more effective digestive system in pregnancy. It's anti-emetic herbal properties are also claimed to reduce feelings of nausea and vomiting.

  Please Note:

Although there is no firm evidence to suggest that the consumption of raspberry leaf tea can bring on early contractions or pre-term labour, it's always best to discuss any concerns you may have with your midwife before making changes to your diet.

Kathy
xx